and i think that's a big problem when you have a $1.1 trillion deficit. the only thing this debate has really been about for the last five weeks has been about tax increases. you're right. the republicans are playing a pretty weak end. as you both know, if nothing happens, then all the taxes go up. part of me says look, the republicans have to get this behind them. behind them go, in 2013, where i think they might have a stronger hand on things like the debt ceiling, what do we do to bring down the rest of the trillion deficit. but right now they're stymied. but i do think that by january 1st, they will have a deal in hand. i still think so. >> joy reid, have those conservative republicans, who wouldn't go along with speaker boehner's plan b last night actually strengthen president obama's hand? because as between the two men, speaker boehner and president obama, one clearly now has the upper hand in terms of leverage and negotiation. >> yeah, completely. and president obama went into this with all of the leverage. and now he's just gotten more. look, at